Costa Rica surfs a name for itself

Leilani McGonagle punches it out at Rip Curl GromSearch International finals

 McGonagle (5th from right) enjoys day off with the world's best juniors Photo courtesy: Rip Curl

The 2015 GromSearch champion, Leilani McGonagle of Pavonses returned to that tournament on May 3 trying to defend her title. Staged at Ala Moana Bowls on Oahu, Hawaii and she didn’t retain the title, but she did fight her way to a 2^nd place showing this year in a competition against the best juniors in the world. McGonagle gave the winner, Hawaii’s Brisa Hennessy a run for her money in a spectacular final in the clean, waist high waves.

Hennessy, herself a Rip Curl GromSearch champion albeit for 2014, opened up first with a set wave that carried left to the inside for a 7.83 score. Although Leilani managed a 5.00 and a 5.73, she couldn’t take the lead. Said Brisa: “The final was kind of tricky, but I look up to Leilani a bunch and we are such good friends, so I am just happy.”

The full group of competitors were:

Australia: Liam O'Brien & Sophia Fulton
Brazil: Anderson Junior & Luara Thompson
Costa Rica: Leilani McGonagle
Europe: Mathis Crozon & Juliette Brice
Hawaii: Wyatt McHale, Brisa Hennessy, & Summer Macedo
Indonesia: Rio Waida & Cinta Hansel
New Zealand: Kehu Butler & Raiha Ensor
South Africa: Koby Oberholzer
USA: Nolan Rapoza

Nolan Rapoza of the United States won the male division.

WQS dates prove challenging for Costa Rican guys

At the Martinique Surf Pro at Basse Point April 17-24, the dynamics of the other participating Qualifying Series competitors and a 3-day holding period due to lack of waves may have contributed to a disappointing showing for the Tico competitors Federico Pilurzu, Tomas King and Noe Mar McGonagle.  Yet, being from Costa Rica, each of them raised on Pura Vida believed that the experience was worth it.

Pilurzu had high hopes, but never passed Round 1. Current, Circuito Guanacaste de Surf #1-ranked Open surfer Tomas King did his friend from Tamarindo just one better, with an exit in Round 2. While Noe Mar McGonagle (Pavones) had the bad luck of hurting his foot before his unsuccessful seeded heat in Round 4.

“It was a super fun trip even though I hurt my foot the morning before my heat,” McGonagle reported. “Stretched ligaments in the middle of my two toes. Tried my hardest to surf my heat, but it was super painful.”

McGonagle was treated by the doctor and rest for a bit before getting back into the water.

Meanwhile, Pilurzu head to Praia do Forte Pro in Brazil on April 26, where he did improve, passing two rounds before faltering.  He explained: “I’m not sure what’s up. The level is really high. I definitely need to get back on a roll. They are a big jump (from the national contests at home) with very little margin of error. But I’m enjoying them, and prepping for my next one around August.”

Gussoni, Fillingim ranked #1 on the national circuit

At home, at the previous date of the Circuito Nacional de Surf Kolbi, presented by Adrenaline Rush, both Emily Gussoni (Jaco) and Anthony Fillingim (Malpais) locked in their second 1^st place wins this season. With this latest accomplishment at the PAPIOLAS Surfing Challenge II in Bejuco, these two surfers are firmly placed on top of the rankings, and poised to take the championships this year.  Of course, they need to finish up the year, and anything could still happen with Nosara, Santa Teresa and the Gran Finals in Hermosa still to come.

Gussoni's training pays off in Bejuco  Photo by: Alfredo Barquero

As to Emily, she’s come out ahead of the pack this year, besting really good female surfers like the 12-time Women’s champ Lisbeth Vindes, 2016 breakout from Tamarindo Zulay Martinez, and even another former national titleholder, Puerto Viejo’s Nataly Bernold. For the COPA Beach Club in Guiones/Nosara, Gussoni continues to stress that her training program is the key to returning to the top spot on the podium.

“I have been training in Guanacaste,” she told me. “I hope the waves will be really good. I’m surfing every day, twice a day.  I’m going to the gym, I have a good diet, I don’t drink, don’t smoke, no parties. I think I’m a good athlete. I deserve to be on the podium. I think I’m doing it the right way, not only for the nationals, but also the championship, Junior Pro, and others. I love surfing!”

Anthony’s win in Bejuco was simple, but not easy. In a final along with Carlos Muñoz (Esterillos), Angelo Bonomelli (Puerto Viejo) and Durby Castillo (Jaco), he maneuvered a backside air worth 9.83 points. This shut Muñoz out of his 1^st place spot and moved him down to 2^nd, Bonomelli to 3^rd, and Castillo to 4^th.

Fillingim air for the win Photo by: Alfredo Barquero

“The waves were very good for both two days, and in the final heat to the death with Carlos Muñoz, I managed to remove him from 1^st, after I made that air that I have been practicing a lot. In truth, I’m very happy to win again,” Fillingim said.

Results of PAPIOLAS Surfing Challenge II:

Open

1.       Anthony Fillingim

2.       Carlos Muňoz

3.       Angelo Bonomelli

4.       Durbin Castillo

Women’s

1.       Emily Gussoni

2.       Nataly Bernold

3.       Leilani McGonagle

4.       Zulay Martinez

Juniors

1.       José Joaquín López

2.       André Chacón

3.       Aldo Chirinos

4.       Malakai Martinez

Boys

1.       Malakai Martinez

2.       Oscar Urbina

3.       Aldo Chirinos

4.       Juan Fisher

Girls

1.       Serena Nava

2.       Valentina Resano

3.       Camila Summers

4.       Emily Anderson

Grommets

1.       Dean Vandewalle

2.       Samuel Reidy

3.       Neo Escaler

4.       Darshan Antequera

Minigrommets

1.       Kai Gale

2.       Kalani Abrahao

3.       Axel Castro

4.       Zac Barger

Minigrommets Girls

1.       Valentina Resano

2.       Candelaria Resano

3.       Auxelia Ryan

4.       Maxima Resano

Josh Kerr tweets about Ollie’s Point surf trip

Kerr paddles out at Ollie's Point on May 1

Those of us who live in Costa Rica, know that we have some special waves. It’s always nice when professionals sign off on that idea by visiting us and surfing our best conditions. Earlier this month, WCT pros Josh Kerr from Australia and Damien Hobgood  from Florida were lucky enough to get some great sessions including one epic day at Ollie’s Point. Here’s what Kerr had to saw on Twitter:

josh_kerr84 Costa Rica trip was mental! This session was epic just @damienhobgood and I trading waves! It's refreshing to know that there are still waves of this quality out there that you surf without anyone around! Thanks @thejstsurfexperience again for the epic trip!

PHOTO

josh_kerr84Pura Vida! Love paddling back out and mind surfing the empty ones coming in! (More wishing I was on them) 🤔 @thejstsurfexperience

Costa Rica, has been amazing with my family @kerrfamily4 & friends! Thanks thejstsurfexperience…

Masters, SUP, Longborad national contests underway

With the midway point of the Circuito Masters & SUP & Longboard completed at Playa Guiones/Nosara, and only the Gran Finals left to go, it looks like the current champions of the elder surfer group will get to keep their crowns. Last month, in Guiones, Alvaro Solano once again won the Masters division. And as an indication of the dearth of veteran surfing woman, current Women’s champion, and this year’s leader, Andrea Diaz was unable to compete because no other qualified females showed up to the contest.

Competitors in the various Masters, SUP and Longboard categories totaled 50, yet, this is only the 3^rd year this tournament has been run.  

Solano’s final heat included Gustavo Castillo of Jaco, Adolfo Gomez of Samara and Ian Bean of Playa Grande, yet none of these experienced surfers could usurp him. Keep in mind, that his title is not assured for this year, given the fact that he missed the first date in Santa Teresa. Yet, it looks promising for Solano.

Bean was able, however, to win Grand Masters, which includes surfers from 40-45 years of age, and the accomplishment was even greater given the fact that this was his first participation in this tournament.

Erick Antonson, who clinched his second win in a row as a SUP surfer catching waves, is assured the national championship at the end of the Circuito in June.

Also, locked in as champion once again is Craig “Tequila” Schieber who just cannot find suitable challengers in his contests, both Kahuna (45-50) and Grand Kahuna (50 and up). He keeps winning 1st place each date.

The next and final date of the Circuito Masters & SUP & Longboard will take place in Playa Hermosa near Jaco on Saturday, June 11, out front of the hotel Tramonto.

Results for the Playa Guiones date of the Circuito Masters & SUP & Longboard:

Masters
1. Alvaro Solano
2. Ian Bean
3. Adolfo Gomez
4. Gustavo Castillo

Grand Masters
1. Ian Bean
2. Erly Farrier
3. Eduardo Rojas
4. Christian Salazar

Kahuna
1. Craig “Tequila” Schieber
2. Ian Bean

Grand Kahuna
1. Craig “Tequila” Schieber
2. Roberto Miranda Quesada

SUP Surfing
1. Erik Antonson
2. Alvaro Solano
3. Dennis Picado Solano
4. Marcel M. Oliveira

Longboard
1. Dorian Torres
2. Marcel Oliveira
3. Alex Gomez Choco’s Surf School
4. Adolfo Gomez

SUP Race
1. Geovanny Espinoza
2. Rolando Herrera Siles
3. José Luis
4. Daniel Suarez Vitola

SUP Race Female
1. Daniela Wooster
2. Valeria Salustri
3. Sele Cubero Guardiola
4. Zenaida Chavez

Young Dean Vandewalle is one to watch

On any given day, if you look out in any of the Guanacaste area lineups, you’ll see this little, cotton-white hair boy wearing glasses and surfing like a monster twice his stature. At first, you wonder, “how do those glasses stay on as he zips and slides, pops airs and tucks into the barrel?” Once, I heard the announcer at the ISA Junior World Surfing Games ask that same question.

No matter, how they do, it’s a good thing because Dean Vandewalle, all of 14, is current #1 ranked in the Boys category on the Circuito Guanacaste de Surf which completes this weekend in Playa Negra. In addition, over on the Circuito Nacional de Surf, the kid is holding down 3 impressive spots on the rankings: #1 Grommets, #2 Boys, and #3 Juniors. He actually won the national Groms title previously.

Deano gets barreled 

But this year, it’s hard to ignore someone new who has a big future, including one on the professional circuit, where he hopes to be one day soon.

A quick chat with Dean shows why he’s winning. “This year, I’ve worked hard to maintain a positive attitude and to go big in contests.”

What else?

“I do believe that style is a big factor in surfing. I feel that style is not something that you can work on too much, but something that comes naturally. It's hard to describe my own personal surfing style. I try to always stay low and keep my arms pretty close to my body. I like both power surfing and airs, but airs are a little bit more exciting and rewarding in both contests and filming. It's fun to experiment in the air and see how high I can go. I think it is also very important to be an all-around surfer, so having a strong power game is crucial.”

Watch out, this is a lot of knowledge for such a young kid with a surfboard.